Garmin Vivoactive HR GPS Smart Watch Review

If you’ve been running, cycling, swimming or hiking lately, its time you got to wear a single watch that will monitor all the activity. The Garmin vívoactive HR Smart Watch seems to be able to do it all. It comes with an all-day activity tracker for different event s ranging from simple things like steps, floors climbed, daily calories burned and sleep.

Apart from that, it integrates notifications from smartphone (iPhone or Android) devices alongside a built-in optical heart-rate sensor and GPS tracker for various activities. Also, if you partake in golf, cross-country skiing, indoor cycling or even do short walks, this fitness wear provides a seamless way to monitor all those activities. And you won’t have to charge it all night.

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Garmin HR Specs

In as much as the Vivoactive HR seems to be able to do it all, the design is in the middle of the road. I really liked the original Vivoactive, but this HR model doesn’t come any close to the original. The watch look bland, big and bulky, and it’s not one of those things you’d proudly wear to the office, let alone a party.

It isn’t that bad, afterall. Even with a bully design, the HR is waterproof up to 50 meters, with an always-on display, which makes it easy to read outdoors, but it may not be exactly clear when indoors.

There is a heart-rate sensor on the back of the Vivoactive HR, which will be good enough for most people. The sensor has a good level of accuracy, especially when measuring a resting heart rate. You’ll find it to be more convenient than wearing a chest strap.

Pros

A wide array of features including smartphone notifications and all-day tracking

Built-in optical heart-rate sensor is a great inclusion

GPS tracking will appeal to most people

Support multiple sport profiles and always-on display

Water resistant, can be worn even when swimming

Cons

Its design is bald and bulky

Occasional connection and syncing problems

Mobile app is a bit confusing

Final Thoughts

With indisputable ability to track various activities including: running, cycling and swimming, the Garmin Vivoactive HR is designed for the active consumer who needs to keep-in-touch with all-day activities. However, I won’t recommend it for pro-runners and athletes because it skimps on some advanced features they may find useful. For the casual walker, enthusiast-level golfer, hobbyist swimmer or biker and everyone else, though, the Vivoactive HR is a recommendable choice and a slid buy, for that matter.